Norfolk’s festival season is in full swing, and up next is Hope House’s biannual Stockley Gardens Arts Festival this weekend, May 21-22. This free, two-day, juried event will showcase more than 115 artists, musicians, and food vendors in Ghent’s beautiful and blooming Stockley Gardens Park.

Festival hours are 10 am-5 pm on Saturday and noon-5 pm on Sunday. Browse the stalls and admire local artists’ handiwork in various media such as painting, glass, sculpture, photography, and jewelry. Better yet, buy some! Jurors will also be in the crowd, evaluating the art and deliberating over who is the best. Kids are welcome and can look forward to music, clowns, hula hooping, and crafts. 

Smartmouth Brewing will cap the first day of festivities with an Art Party (also free!) on Saturday from 5–7 pm, where the winning artists will be recognized and awarded. A cash bar will be available, and the rockabilly band Jailtones will be playing up a storm. 

Many musicians will contribute to the soundtrack of the weekend:

Saturday, May 21

11:00 am Liz & Brydge/ Jazz     

12:15 pm Red Stapler Duo/Modern Variety

2:00 pm Michael Lille/Singer-Songwriter   

3:30 pm Cody Christian/Americana-Country        

5:00 pm Jailtones/Rockabilly

Sunday, May 22

Noon Jimmy Masters & Eddie Williams/Jazz

1:00 pm Jim Bulleit/Americana Folk & Rock

2:00 pm Saint Juliens Creek Revival/Bluegrass & Americana

3:30 pm The Storyweavers/ Americana Folk

In its 38th year, the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival is Hope House Foundation’s biggest fundraiser – the spring and fall festivals generate about $80,000 a year. Proceeds go toward housing, food, transportation, clothing, and dental and medical care for people with developmental disabilities in Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach. Hope House is the only organization in Virginia that provides exclusively in-home support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Come enjoy a good time for a good cause. 

Catie Sauer

Ghent, NFK

Catie was born in Norfolk and as an adult has lived here for two years and change. She has a master's in Environmental Planning and Design from the University of Georgia. She likes hiking, playing trivia, being a flaneuse, pinball, memes, and growing vegetables. 

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